Cushion for invalids



1964 R. E. PERNELL 3,153,873

CUSHION FOR INVALIDS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 I 7109712 07" Fofierl E Pernell J!!! rney United States Patent 3,153,878 QUSHEGN FQR INVALIDS Robert E. Fernell, H gh Point, N.C., assignnr to Wood Conversion ompany, St, iPaul, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 27, 1963, Ser. No. $34,848 Claims. (til. 5-338) The present invention relates to cushions or pads for relieving localized pressures on a person in a variety of positions, such as one sitting, or lying prone in bed. In particular, it relates to a contoured and recessed pad of such design that it is suitable for persons of various sizes, shapes and weights.

The pad is not only useful to bed-ridden patients who have developed decubitus ulcers but useful as a preventative for those who are likely to develop such ulcers. Such ulcers develop where there is little flesh under the skin and where the circulation is affected by prolonged pressure on the region as in the prone position.

The pad is so designed that it may be secured to a standing person as a sort of garment, in which position it is properly placed to permit the wearer to Walk, and to permit the cushion to function when the person sits, or lies prone on the back.

For the sitting and prone positions, the garment has pressure-relieving recesses, preferably in the form of noncushioning holes, so shaped and positioned as to relieve pelvic pressure on the buttocks and the gluteal folds as Well as on the ischium. Also there is a similar pressurerelieving recess for the coccyx and lower spine in the sitting and prone positions, thus minimizing the need for much service from attendants. The pad when properly positioned is most useful in prolonged sitting as with paraplegics.

The contour is such as to produce an appropriate size to cushion the body in the areas surrounding the said pressure-relieving recesses. The contour has a narrow deep bifurcating recess for alinement with the spine, and of a length to cross the region of the gluteal folds. The bifurcation forms branches to lie over the rear portions of the thighs of a prone person wearing the cushion.

The preferred material of the pad is an open celled flexible urethane foam of the following selected characteristics, such that in use it does not bottom, i.e., compress beyond its limits of relisiency:

Designation RMA 1 Density 8-3941 36 to 41 lbs/50 sq. in. 1.45 to 1.55 lbsJcu. it.

i RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) is the force required to compress a specimen 25% of its thickness under the conditions set forth in ASTM (American Society for Treating Materials) D 1564-591.

The open celled structure permits breathing, thus to minimize the inducement to perspire. Selected grades of elastomeric foams, such as polyurethane foam, are available to provide the desired physical qualities, and in addition, washability and the open cell structure.

The preferred form of the pad is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pad.

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the pad looking at the recessed edge.

FIG. 3 illustrates the pad worn over the buttocks of a person, and held in place by a bandage around the waist.

FIG. 4 shows the pad underlying a prone person.

FIG. 5 shows the pad in use as a seat cushion.

In FIG. 1 the pad is shown as generally rectangular in shape with four sides 12, 14, 16 and 18. The location and inter-relation of sides 12, 14 and 16 may be moved outwardly from the position shown Without any loss of function for the pad. The side 18 is shown with an elongated bifurcating recess 20 so positioned that it is alined in use with the users spine. The depth of the recess is such as to pass the lines of the gluteal folds, designated in FIG. 3 by the dotted lines 22, and to reach nearly to the end of the spine when used as a seat cushion. The recess 20 effects a forked structure giving the edge 18 extensibility when sat upon by the sitter spreading the legs. Also the two branches formed permit a standing person wearing the cushion to walk unimpeded by the cushion.

Within the cushion pressure-relieving areas are formed by removing a depth of cushioning foam, preferably by forming one or more holes through the cushion. Such recesses in the form of holes make the cushion more flexible for adjusting its positions with different persons.

Above and alined with the bifurcating recess 20 is an elongated substantially eliptical hole 24 positioned to underly the coccyx and relieve pressure thereon. Laterally of the bifurcating recess 2% are duplicate holes 26 and 28 which are generally elliptical in shape with their long axes divergent inwardly, as at about 60 to each other. Since, in the preferred form, the size and relation of the holes and of the bifurcating recess have been selected to accommodate a variety of human forms, the best description of the invention is by way of illustrative dimensions of the preferred form.

Taking the edge 18 as a base line, the bifurcating recess is about 8 inches deep and 1.5 inches wide at the narrow portion designated by dotted line 30, which portion leads to a semi-circular end of approximately 2 inches in diameter.

The duplicate holes 26 and 23 begin 3 inches in from the base line 18, have a long axis of 7% inches, and a short axis of 4% inches. The long axes are at about 60 to each other and diverge from the edge 18. The two holes 26 and 28 are closest to each other substantially at the line 30 being 3 inches apart, thus leaving l-inch wide portions of foam 32 and 34 between the recess 20 and the holes 26 and 28.

The hole 24 has a long axis of 6 inches and a short axis of 4 /2 inches. The long axis is alined with the recess Z4 and is separated from it by a distance of about 1 inch.

In particular, the various extents of foam between the recess 26 and the holes 26 and 28 permit easy flexibility in opening and closing the forked structure created by the recess 20. Opening the fork from normal position widens each hole and spreads apart the holes 26 and 28, thus effecting accommodation to buttocks of varying size and spread.

FIG. 3 shows the pad 10 secured over the buttocks of a person P by a wrap-around bandage 36. In this position recess 26 has the additional function of allowing the forked portions of the pad to move when the person walks, without impeding movement of the legs.

FIG. 4 shows the pad 19 in its flat form underlying a prone person P.

FIG. 5 shows the pad 16} in use as a seat cushion, on a bed 36 giving pressure relief to the buttocks and the ischium at the gluteal folds.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to and by the dimensions given herein by way of illustration, and that numerous changes, such as a series of sizes, may be made, without departing from the invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cushion for relief of pressure areas when in use by a human body, comprising a bifurcated cushioning th ckness of open cell elastomeric foam with pressurerelieving recesses within the area thereof, one edge of said cushion having an elongated bifurcating recess inwardly from the edge for effecting two branches, each resulting branch having a portion of a pressure-relieving elongated recess of which the remaining portion extends 'bifurcatin'g recess having a third elongated pressure-re.

lieying recess alined with said bifurcating recess, one end of said third pressure-relieving recess being located between and inwardly of divergent ends of the said pressure-relieving recesses in said branches.

2. A cushion according to claim 1 in which at least one, of the pressure-relieving recesses is a hole through the cushion.

3. A cushion according to claim 1 in which all of the pressure-relieving recesses are, holes through the cushion.

4. A pressure-relieving cushion for the human body consisting of a layer of cushioning open cell elastomeric foam, said layer being bifurcated from one edge forming branches for movement and register with the rear portions of the thighs, said cushion having pressure-relieving recesses located in the said thigh-registering position so as to register with the buttocks and with the end of the spine.

5. A cushion according to claim 4 in which at least one of the pressure-relieving recesses is a hole through the layer.

2,933,733 Whelan Apr. 26, 1960 Emery Jan. 3, 1956 

1. A CUSHION FOR RELIEF OF PRESSURE AREAS WHEN IN USE BY A HUMAN BODY, COMPRISING A BIFURCATED CUSHIONING THICKNESS OF OPEN CELL ELASTOMERIC FOAM WITH PRESSURERELIEVING RECESSES WITHIN THE AREA THEREOF, ONE EDGE OF SAID CUSHION HAVING AN ELONGATED BIFURCATING RECESS INWARDLY FROM THE EDGE FOR EFFECTING TWO BRANCHES, EACH RESULTING BRANCH HAVING A PORTION OF A PRESSURE-RELIEVING ELONGATED RECESS OF WHICH THE REMAINING PORTION EXTENDS BEYOND THE BIFURCATION, SAID TWO ELONGATED PRESSURE-RELIEVING RECESSES BEING DIVERGENT INWARDLY FROM SAID EDGE, AND THE CUSHION INWARDLY FROM SAID EDGE AND FROM SAID BIFURCATING RECESS HAVING A THIRD ELONGATED PRESSURE-RE- 